From the Leadville Herald:

Chupacabra: the hunt is on

It is chupacabra season again. On Friday, Mayor Bud Elliott urged the populace to be on the look out for these rare creatures.

Plans are afoot at city hall to capture a chupacabra in time for the St. Patrick’s Practice Parade Sept. 18. This is part of an initiative on the part of the city to draw on the wildlife viewing tourism market.

If a chupacabra cannot be captured, a mock-chupacabra will be displayed in the parade. After the parade, there may be an expedition to find and tag a wild chupacabra according to Elliott.

Native to the Americas, chupacabras reportedly vary in size. Some reports say that the young are about six feet tall. Other reports describe the chupacabra as being smaller. The Central American sub-species has large spines protruding from its back. The Rocky Mountain variety is much furrier, no doubt an adaptation to the climate.

Chupacabras, from the Spanish for “goat sucker,” were first reported in a now infamous goat mutilation in Puerto Rico. Goats are their most common prey. Elliott said that they are believed to be living above tree-line and surviving on mountain goats. However, the numerous old goats around town are advised to be extra cautious. Elliott also said that the chupacabras, should they wonder into town, might start snacking on dogs.

“Keep your pet at home,” the mayor said and quickly added, “this isn’t about code enforcement.”

(via Stan)

Talk and talk and talk. One would think that, now that I am no longer a nigh-mindless drone under the direction of my estate and imperator, I would welcome the respite, but the urges of my own private quest, forestalled, grow in me, and I'd lief as finish this business with Jotunheim and be about it.

Whilst the Graf journeyed ahead in its inimitable fashion to the people of Jotunheim, Guilt and I traveled the long course to that world's stem. And yet, even as we approached that absurd space, we realized that our initial plan would not work.

For among those Nobles we could trust and count upon, too few bore the power necessary to effect the stem's severing. Who else could we call on? Haley is too weak, in this at least, and Meon -- I'd sooner see him take the final plunge, were he not, with his imperator, bound on Earth.

Fungus had been to contact our brethren Electricity and Lust. I still sought to contact Reality, but she rejected my prayer. I'll leave to poets to interpret that event.

That meant speaking to the Imperators, and letting them, Amaciel and Cathetel, do this thing. That added to the danger, for such an attack would draw both their fellow Aaron Serpents in protest, and the Excrucians as well. Still, that seemed the most likely course to succeed.

To that end, Mariska returned to Earth, whilst I continued on to find Fungus. That meant descending the stem, a reverse Jack the Giant-Killer (I would give that the best interpretation I could), down to that forsaken world.

And, not surprisingly, there were those awaiting. I would never think of defending Earth at its ... stem. The Excrucians are far better at understanding the underside of the Mythic than I.

Something must be done about that.

A figure arose on a distant mountaintop as I descended through the atmosphere to ground level, and then I became aware of another figure, approaching form behind. I turned to that one, a woman of blond, stars in her eyes -- a Valkyrie, in appearance, and thus likely am Excrucian Shard.

"Creature of Earth, you are not wanted here," she said, slowing her approach. "My master and I bar the way. Return whence you came, and we need not fight."

I shook my head. "I've no desire to fight you. That is not my errand here."

She nodded. "Then begone." She gestured back to the stem. "That way."

"I have other business in this world, and seek only to pass."

"Then we have reached an impasse, and one of us need breach it."

We rushed each other, and she launched the first blow. I could sense her boosting her power to land the blow, but I parried it, thrusting with a riposte that she, too, dodged. She was good, no doubting it -- though not as good as I. And I worried about her "master."

I urged my speed and strength upwards, reversing my spear and driving its butt up into her chin. She flew backwards, the thin air of this world rumbling and cracking as the local sound barrier was breached. Her trajectory, nearly flat, drove her toward her master, and it would have been too much to hope that he'd be struck by her, nor would such a hope have been rewarded. Instead, he moved a handful of inches to one side, to allow his minion to pass, possibly headed for a low sub-orbit.

I was not there to see it, having let my blow and my own power of flight send me in the opposite direction at full speed. A glimpse back was enough to spot the master keeping even pace with me.

That wouldn't do. Could I defeat him? Possibly, but not certainly. And I could not take him to where the Graf was, in Utgard half the world away.

Fine. I'd take the short cut.

Summoning up the power of the Spear, I smote the ground below me, changing course to dive into the cloven planet below me. The ground rifted open before, closed in the shock wave behind. I maintained a straight path for a minute or two, before shifting, in case he estimated my direction and thought to be there to meet me where I emerge.

Were he not following me already. I hoped not.

Then I was in the open, slowing, long before I should have transited Jotunheim. The darkling city rose up about me, fetid and complex, a regular rats warren under a sunless sky.

"INTRUDER!" cried the first of the svartalven, catching me in his beady black eyes. And then, in their hundreds, they charged ...

My family sits in the graveyard of the gods and discusses the plight of Asgard and how to destroy the rainbow bridge. The winds talk to us of what has passed in our sister chancel. We fall silent. As usual while on the tree, time does strange things.

What starts as a train-wreck of thoughts – a random association of the nobles of Agar, Ashes and Embers – leads to a wild plan – what would happen if we dropped the whole world, along with the infestation of excrucians, down to Hell? Hell could take care of the infestation and we would be free to destroy the bridge without interference. My siblings actually like the idea. Plans begin to form.

I return to Utgard. From the shadow – “you seem to be having difficulty with your approach”. A noble approaches, he is tall thin hair slicked back. He continues, “A daring plan.” It is Loki, the prodigal son returned.

“Where have you been?” I ask him. He has been here and there, but obviously not a small about of his absence was sent in Hell. He was listening to our family’s discussion. He suggests that there are areas of Hell that I would enjoy – I will have to check that out sometime.

“Do you think that Hell has the ability to deal with the Excrucians?” I continue. Loki is surprised that we are truly serious about this plan, that our family would find this a palatable solution.

(This whole good-bad thing is lost on me, sort of like sex)

Loki offers to have a friend gate the heroes out just before the drop. I don’t like the idea of trusting him to send us someplace we would like. Since I can make a fairy ring we won’t need to rely on his “friend”

Loki sums up the plan, “So, you can sell the expected plan of an attack on Asgard to the masses and then sneak the principles out and drop the ball. The timing would have to be close.”

“Well then I will go and see that the fall-out from this is mitigated.” Loki Leaves

I decide to divide and conquer before trying to get concessions. Ratatosk is the power that is the least tied to myth of Agar, so I start with him. After first blanching at the initial idea, he agrees conditionally. Ratatosk suggests that we start with the hardest – The Giant Hrungyr.

So…Sian is sitting there up against a Head Stone. She is so peaceful when she is dreaming. Not the pent up coil of PUNISHMENT that we have come to know and love.

I let her dream. I am feeling something of great pain coming from home, and soon it is over. The pain is replaced by a need to inflict guilt with a little hint of punishment. I’ll let Sain know about it when she comes to. But, back to the guilt, it grows in little ebbs. Something is very familiar about it.

Hmm…It reeks of Amacial.

What has he done now.

Ahhh…It’s not him but it is of him. Lust has been a naughty little girl, and not in the ways that she is used to being naughty. Her love anchor has killed herself because Macy would not help her. It is sad that she would disobey one of the laws and then treat her little strumpet of a Love Anchor so callously. I’ll have to send Macy a little note and let her know that Antioxidants are good for the skin when grieving.

Ahh…Sian is starting to stir, I’ll have to talk to one of the Spirits of the headstones. It does unnerve her so.

“Hello there head spirit, what have you been seeing lately”.

“Ach, not much. Just guarding the dead and making sure they are remembered”.

“That seems to be a very responsible task, how very fortunate for you”.

“Oh, good morning sleepy head, very nice to see that you got your beauty sleep”.

Before Sain had a chance to respond, Fungus showed up to tell us of its plan. It wants to drop Jotenhiem into hell. It sounded like a great plan to us and we were very willing to help. Now we only need to find some folks that would be willing to help us.

Actually, this is a test to see if I can upload an image okay on Doyce's blog. Which, evidently, I can, which makes me think it's a config problem with his Firefox.

But Sian really could ...

On the greensward by the cemetery of the Imperators, we discuss the death of a world.

Our goal is to keep the Excrucians from taking control of the Bifrost bridge in Jotunheim, which would let them attack any world they wished. We'd considered a straightforward attack -- holding off the hordes in Asgard City, whilst one of us destroyed the bridge.

But Fungus devised a far more cunning -- and, appropriately, inhuman plan. And I'll confess that it was not one I'd have thought of. My mind still shrinks from seeing worlds as fruit upon the World Tree, and so would never have dreamt of simply severing the stem, to let Jotunheim fall the nigh-infinite distance to Hell.

Let those denizens deal with the Excrucians, most appropriately. And, should they object, it would be no cause of tears for me.

It will take several of us Nobles to do this -- our brethren in Chancel Amaciel seem the most likely subjects (others that Guilt and Fungus suggest -- Desecration, Justice -- I'd lief as not consult with, and my own feelings about Imagination are conflicted enough I cannot judge whether she could, or would, help us).

Or, of course, we could bring Cathetel and Amaciel themselves to do it. I shrink from that course -- I suspect the price, were they even willing to so exert themselves, would be too high. And the complications ...

Of course, the others of their order, the Serpents of Aaron, may well object to this plan. Which complicates things still more.

The heavens wheel above us, as though our discussion, e'er setting out, takes months, not hours. But at length, having chit-chatted enough, Mariska and I go forth to the stem, whilst the Graf moves in its own ways to warn what few allies remain in Jotunheim ...

My Realm just keeps growing and growing. First E-Cards and now this.

Ahhh…it’s good to be guilt!

Sian and Mariska

In the Cemetery she dreams. She sees death, Lust, and lawn bowling. When she awakes she sees Mariska having a conversation with a Grave stone. Sain informs Mariska of Fungus’ plan to deal with Jotenhiem. The plan is to drop it in to Hell and let them deal with it. They go and find the Stem.

Fungus (Hans)

Fungus has a vision…Dropping Jotenheim in to hell.

Fungus reconstitutes in Utgard the only remaining in Jotenhiem. As it travels it comes across Loki. They talk about what he has been going on in his life over the past 1000 Years. They discuss hell, its surrounding environs, and it’s inhabitants.

Loki has agreed to help and will go to hell and take credit for it. The added bonus will be that he will become a Duke of hell. They decided to talk to Hrungyr the giant to see what he wants in for return for his aid in the scheme.

*******

The plan will need either 5 Nobles or 2 Imperators doing level nine miracles. Looking at June, Sain, Fungus, Macy, and hopefully Donner to do the.